MONTENEGRO CITIZENSHIP PROGRAMME

CAPITAL CITY

Podgorica

LANGUAGE

Montenegrin

POPULATION

640,000

TIME ZONE

Central European Time Zone (UTC + 1.00)

NEAREST COUNTRIES

Croatia, Italy, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Albania

VISA FREE COUNTRIES

123 Countries, including the EU’s Schengen Area, Russia, Brazil and Turkey

TOTAL AREA

13,812 km²

CURRENCY

Euro €

MONTENEGRO

Located in South-Eastern Europe, Montenegro (Black Mountain or Crna Gora) is called the Pearl of the Balkans. With a Mediterranean climate on the coast and continental climate inland, this country attracts a lot of visitors also due to the picturesque shoreline and an average of 180 sunny days a year. Over the past years Montenegro has developed into a stable democratic jurisdiction with a fast-growing market economy. Open economy and business-friendly environment has become one of the cornerstones of the Montenegrin economic policy. Montenegro is a candidate-country to join EU, and it is expected to enter the European Union in 2025. Until then, citizens of Montenegro can enjoy visa free travel through the European Schengen area, Russia, Brazil, Turkey and many others.

LEGAL BASIS

On the basis of the Decision on the criteria, method and procedure of electing person who can acquire Montenegrin citizenship by admission for realisation of special investment program which has special meaning for economic interest of Montenegro, the Montenegro Economic Citizenship Program (MECP) was launched in 2018 and it allows investors the opportunity to obtain the citizenship of Montenegro in exchange for investment in the country. The Montenegro programme requires applicants to make a contribution to a development fund, as well as to invest in development projects approved by the Montenegrin Government. The Montenegro Citizenship by Investment Program will be open only for 2,000 applicants from only non-EU countries for a limited period of three years only.

BENEFITS OF MONTENEGRO CITIZENSHIP

Fast Track application: 6 months

No min. physical stay prior, during or after Citizenship

Visa free travel to 123 Countries, including Schengen Area, Russia, Brazil and Turkey

Dual Citizenship Allowed

Montenegro is a Prospective EU member state

Family members included and transferable to descendants

ELIGIBILITY

To be able to submit an application under the Montenegro Citizenship by investment program, an applicant must be at least over the age of 18 and contribute to the economy of Montenegro by paying a non-refundable contribution to a government fund as well as to invest in government approved development projects.

INVESTMENT

The applicant is required to invest in development projects which were approved by the Government. The investment can be made either in developed or underdeveloped regions:

€250,000 in development projects in underdeveloped regions of Montenegro (North and Central Montenegro, excluding Podgorica); or
€450,000 in development projects in developed regions of Montenegro (seaside and Capital City – Podgorica).

The Government approved development projects, can be from the field of Tourism, Agriculture and the Manufacturing Industry.

CONTRIBUTION

The applicant is also required to contribute to the economy of Montenegro by paying a non-refundable contribution of €100,000 a Government Fund which fund will go be used for the development of underdeveloped areas.

GOVERNMENT PROCESSING FEES

The Applicants are also required to settle the Government fees for the applicant and the family members included in the application as below:
Main Applicant: €15, 000
Spouse: €10,000
Dependent 1: €10,000
Dependent 2: €10,000
Dependent 3: €10,000
Dependent 5 (and onwards): €50,000

The contribution and the investment funds are to be transferred to an ESCROW account upon submission of the application, and shall be transferred to the respective accounts upon receipt of in principle approval from the Competent Authority.